Get your own Free Home PageAs a high school student, I remember noticing a bumper sticker that quipped, “As long as there are final exams, there will be prayer in school.” I wondered what the whole “prayer in school” debate was about. I was confused because, as far as I could discern, no one could stop me from praying in school no matter what the law said.
Although my response then based on naivete and misunderstanding, I still hold a similar view today. The most obvious thing then, as well as now, was that taking formal prayer out of the classroom in no way restricted my religous freedom. In fact, it actually gave me more freedom since my private prayers would consist of the stirrings of my heart rather then a nondescript prayer that a far removed school board had developed and instituted. By not imposing its prayer upon me, the school had actually given me more freedom of conscience.
Another aspect of the prayer in school issue also bothers me. While I might like to institute my faith as the true one, what guarantee exists that it would be my faith chosen? What if I were forced to make prayers and vows of allegiance to a god in which I did not belive. I would be outraged and indignant. Yet this is the very thing that the proponents of prayer in school are asking others to do.
Yet an even deeper concern is illustrated by the story of Saint Augustine. In his zeal to spread Christianity throughout the island of Britain, he converted King Ethelbert to the faith. The king promptly declared his kingbom to be Christian land. While Saint Augustine and King Ethelbert may have seemed successful, they had done nothing to change people's hearts. The people of Britin where no more Christian after the conversion than they were before. They still made vows and sacrifices to the old heathen gods.
Let me emphasize, though, that my arguments pertain to school-instituted prayer. Equally as passionate is my belief that students should be allowed to participate in activities which express their own beliefs. Student-led Bible studies and religious clubs as well as clothing and jewelry expressing religious beliefs should in no way be restricted. Students should also be encouraged to express their faith in class if their opinions or beliefs on a classroom topic are strongly influenced by their religion.
My religious convictions are the single most important factor in defining who I am. But from my perspective, if I believe that my God is supreme, then I believe His truth will prevail, without my classroom coercion. To use my position as a public school teacher to promote my own beliefs is a grave misuse of power. Schools exist for the sole purpose of educating youth. Do I think it is out duty to teach students about various cultures and their religious beliefs? Absolutely. Do I support teacher-led prayer or school employees advocating a certain religion within the classroom walls? Absolutely not.
Cynthia Vaughn teaches English at Smith High School. She is a native of Pennsylvanis and grew up in Guilford County. She received her degree from UNCG.
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